Germany by cross bike: Stage tour on the Rennsteig - In the hiking area: With the cross bike on the Rennsteig
Day 1 (80 kilometres, 1,800 metres in altitude, max. 16 % gradient)
Hörschel - Oberhof
No question: the first part of the tour, from Hörschel to Oberhof, is the most challenging - and the most interesting, especially because of the sometimes quite bumpy and steep ascent from Hörschel to Clausberg. From there, there are always shorter sections on quiet tarmac roads. The last 20 kilometres from the Funpark Inselsberg are quite lonely through the forest to Oberhof.
Day 2 (60 kilometres, 800 metres in altitude, max. 9 % gradient)
Oberhof - Neuhaus am Rennweg
After Oberhof, a longer ascent leads to the highest point of the Rennsteig Cycle Trail, the Schmücke (942 m). Up to Neuhaus am Rennweg there are steady but moderate ups and downs.
Day 3 (60 kilometres, 600 metres in altitude, max. 7 % gradient)
Neuhaus am Rennweg - Blankenstein
The stretches through the forest become less frequent. And the route tends to go downhill, in Brennersgrün steeply along a fairly rutted dirt track. Unfortunately, there are also some boring sections on cycle paths along major roads on this day. A few single trails through the forest make the experience more entertaining again. And finally, the long descent into the Saale valley to the destination of Blankenstein awaits.
